Therapeutic leg and foot wrap



J il. 5 192s. 1 ,568,757

E. A. M INTYRE THERAPEUTIC LEG AND FOOT WRAP Filed 001;. 26, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet 1 a Edr'zflAMc Inga/re.

Jan. 5, 1926. 1565757 E. A. M INTYRE THERAPEUTIC LEG AND FOOT WRAP FiledOct. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDITH A. IOINTYBE, NEW YORK, 11'. Y.

THERAPEUTIC LEG AND FOOT wm. I

Application filed October 28, 1828. Serial No. 597,197

To all whom it my concern: I

Be it known that I, Enrrn A. MCINTYRE,

a citizen of the United States, and a resi-.

vments in a Therapeutic Le and Foot Wrap;

, and I do hereby declare t at the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this s ecification.

ThlS invention relates to an electrically heated or therapeutic leg andfoot wrap,

and it is an ob'ect of this invention to pro-' vide a soft plia le wrapin which the heat is automatically controlled and which is simple,inexpensive and very efficient, and does not require the use of waterfor securing proper action.

\Vith these and other objects in view which will become more apparent inthe following description and disclosures, this invention comprises thenovel structures hereinafter described and more particularly pointed outand defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthis invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the wrap with one ply of the wrapbroken away to show, the electrical heating means.

Figure 2 is a section upon the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section upon the line 44 of Figure 1 showing thethermostat.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one element of the wrap upon a reduced scale.

Figure 6 is a plan View ofanother element of the wrap upon a reducedscale.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the wrap with a simulation of a bandaged footand leg ready to be wrapped.

Figure 8 is a plan View similar to Figure 7 but with the first elementwrapped around the foot and leg.

Figure 9 is a plan view similar to Figure 8 but with the second elementand' flap of the outer element wrapped around the leg.

I Figure 10 is a side 'elevational view of the wrap when in use with theouter element,

in folded position.

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the wrap when in use.

As shown on the drawings:

In the drawings I have shown. one embodiment of my invention whichcomprises a plurality of elements. The first element preferably consistsof rubber or some similar material that is adapted to be wrapped aroundthe leg and foot which, in the present instance, is shown as wrapped ina bandage. The second element ma consist of canton flannel or a similarmaterial which is soft and pliable, that is also wrapped around the footand leg. The third or outer element is in the form of a boot open at itstop and at its forward end, and may be made of canton flannel, felt orany suitable material. These separate elements will now be described andtheir function more fully pointed out.

The first element which consists of rubber is best illustrated in Figure6. It is formed of a suitable piece of rubber having a lower portion 1for encompassing the foot and an upper portion 2 for encompassing anankle and a portion of a leg with V-shaped cut out portions 3 at thejuncture thereof where the break at the ankle occurs, in order that thesame may be readily folded. This rubber element is for the purpose ofretaining the heat and for gently producing perspiration with as littleover-activity and forcing of the sweat glands as possible.

The second element is best illustrated in Figure 5. It consistspreferably of a piece of canton flannel or the like having a lower footengaging portion 4 and an upper leg engaging portion 5 with V-shaped outout portions 3 at the juncture where the break at the ankle occurs inorder that the same may be more readily folded with less bulkiness. Thissecond element serves to impart warmth to the foot.

The third or outer element is best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and.9, andconsists of the boot proper which is made of two separate plies of clothsuch as canton flannel or the like. The boot is constructed by taking asole portion 6 of two separate plies such as is indicated in Figure 9,and attaching the upper portion 7 in the form of two separate plies uponthe sides and rear margin thereof, leaving the front end open. A flap 8(Figure .9) is preferably attached along its center line to the rearupper part of the upper portion so that the same may be wrapped aroundthe leg. The inner side of the outerply of the boot is referably linedwith some suitable lining or attachi the electrical heating mediumthereto, w 'ch is illustrated as consisting of insulated resistancewires 9 which are connected in series and which are strun over thebottom and around the lateral si es and rear part of the upper portionof the boot to a suitable height, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The

intervals along the inner side ofthe inner.-

ply of the top, as shown in Figure 3. When muse, this outer element ispro erly folded over the foot or leg and secure by a safety pin or thelike.

It is frequently desirable and often necessary to maintain asubstantially constant temperature in the boot, and 'for this purpose Ihave inserted a thermostat '11 in series with the resistance wires 9.The thermostat, which is preferabl secured to the rear part of the bootjust a ve the bottom, is illustrated in Figure 4. It consists of a base12 having raised supports at its ends upon which a resilient ex ansiblebar 13 is supported. An adjustab e contact screw 14 extends through thebase 'andinto contact with the bar 13. The current enters through thewire 9 and ost 15 in the base, which is in contact wit a screw 16 in aconductor 17 leading to the screw 14,

' through which the electrical'current passes to the expansible bar 13.One end of the bar 13 is in contact with a terminal 18 which is inelectrical connection with the wire 9 through which the current emergesfrom the thermostat. A cover 19 may be placed over the base to form aninclosed hollow casing for the thermostat. 7

It will be understood that the current must pass through the thermostatand if the wrapped aroun maintained, which may be rea I When the temerature cools off sufiicientl the bar 13 wil contract and automatical yreestablish the contact through the screw 14 whereb the current willflow again. It will there ore be apparent that the thermostatautomaticallg' regulates the tem erature and maintains t stant. Byadjusting the screw 14 to raise or lower the contact point, it ispossible to vary the temperature at which the circuit is broken.

In use, the foot which it is desired to treat and which may be wrappedin a bandage is placed within the rubber element which forms the innerelement of the boot. The rubber element is then wra ped around the footand lower portion of t e leg. The intermediate element 4 of cantonflannel is then wrapped around the foot andleg over the rubber wra per.The flap 8 is then the leg and the outer element or boot member is thenproperly folded to conform to the wrapped foot and leg and fastened by apin or clasp.

It is characteristic of this invention that the different elements areseparable and that the inner elements are replaceable with respect tothe outer element, and that the heat is automatically controlled.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a very simple and eflicienttherapeutic foot wrap has been provided in which the desired temperaturemay be re lated and di ly ap lied to the foot or removed therefrom witout causing any pain.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention, andI therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

In a therapeutic foot and leg wrap, a flexible element formed ofseparate plies and comprising a'sole portion and an upper extendinaround the sides and rear of said sole portion but open at its front, aflap attached along its center line to the rear portion of said upperand adapted to be wrapped around the leg only, and electrical heatingmeans :disposed between the plies of said flexible element.

In' testimony whereof I .have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDITH A. MoIN TYRE.

e same substantia ly con-

